New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-09
A QUESTION OF Accomplishments

Not long ago, In noticing briefly some musical per-
by local singing societies, we took occasion to
deprecate custom among the mixed chors OF producing
eantatas with the Accomplishments transferred from an
orchestra to panoforte pianoforte and organ From
an article printed in The Washington Post, We observe
that practical has been given to the question In
volyed In the custom through controversy between
Mr. Dudley Buck and the Choral Society OF Washington
The Choral Society time ago began the study Oh MI
Buek's newest work, The Light of ASIA" published
in London last fall by Noyello, Ever & Co. Learning
from the secretary OF the society that It was pposed 70
Give the work with organ accompaniment, Mr. Buck
wrote respectful protest against the proposed misrep
resenaton OF the work. argued the essential character
OF its instrumental part, and urged posponemen OF
the performance until circumstances should admit OF
proper performance, saying: 81 do not exaggerate In
the least when say that had rather that The Light
OF Asia should be publicly given than shouo
be given without orchestra" The secretary repuea
at lengtb setting forth the difficulties in the way Of such
performance as Mr.. Buck desired, but the composer
remained virtuously Obdurae; and after poihuhg OUT
the class OF musical compositions which wonid suier
east from translation OF their accomplishments ana
urging the choice OF SUCH he expression 10 words
which deserve read by everybody sincerely devoted
TO the advancement OF American music Here they are;
AT this time I'm our musical history the frs public
performance of large American work Is OF more tnan
worry ONLY hut Of the American OF the hopes Of the
future, aud for younger men. by not giving "orA
its adequate ana proper rcnuetshb ZIG ou'oot
hinder not advance the progress OF American msica
ART Had nv work already been given In us complete
ness had Ii been judged by fairly adequate PerIorL
ance for what IL is not for what II 10 hot sholu III
vcnr case simply confne myself TO an expression OF
regret partially ed by the compliment the WASH
ngton Choral Society propose to give me. AS 10,
owe il to myself protest against such nrst PERFORM
l.. ru,,,x 60 ,nata any
nnblc statement which may desire. am ANXIOUS 70
60 on record in this matter for, TO my MIND, Involves
Tar more than the personal interest OF the undesgheu
look 1t from the standpoint OF principle es sas
many American works yet 10 come, ana peiesc iua
myself and my colleagues that our motto anu our Vue
interest IL found In the American line;
Learn To labor and to walt
From the article In The Post it appears that thereupoh
efforts we're made to an orchestra The enorts
failed and aThe Light of Asia" was performed on last
Friday night with pianoforte and organ accompaniment
as described dispatch 10 The TRIBUNE Ihe pomt al
issue I'm this controversy VIII be Appreciated py every
nusicai connoisseur and Mr. Bucks action cannot ia
70 win approbation The Light OF Asia has III gIea
deal of oriental color which only the oTcnestIn
nars can bring out Its character and douDtess much
~ ts charm lie great extent In the combination OF
Instrumental voices. These therefore, cohs.tuue an
integral part OF the work and omitted In performance
The work a not performed but Is muilated III would
have been wiser to substitute for IL cantata composed
tistic significance which they have in a majority OF
latter day compositions II Is wise TO strive TO encourage
American composers but II Is not wise 10 subject the
works 10 criticism which, In the nature OF the case,
must want intelligent point OF vew-such cIltcis As
we saw recently think In the columns OF the same
marks which in proof OF the difficulties in The Light Of
Asia advanced the startling fact that there VIZ
scarcely measure in which minor or an acclaeul"
note Is not introduced